TIETO26 preparedness exercise to test companies’ and authorities’ ability to ensure continuity of food supply during escalating conflict

TIETO26, Finland’s largest joint exercise involving the private sector and public authorities, will bring together more than 180 organisations at the end of September to practise response to severe disruptions, hybrid threats and the threat of escalating military conflict.

The TIETO26 exercise focuses on the food supply sector, which is critical to security of supply, and the operational reliability of its largely digitalised supply chains in the event of serious disruptions and emergency conditions.

The participants will tackle disruptions that threaten the stability of society in a fictional yet realistic simulation scenario in which Finland faces a serious and protracted crisis. The private sector must find ways to provide critical services and contribute to maintaining security of supply during emergency conditions.

The aim of the exercise is to strengthen the management of hybrid, information and cyber disruption incidents, as well as the cooperation between public authorities, companies and organisations required for recovery from such incidents. The intensive phase of the exercise will take place from 29 September to 1 October 2026.

“The exercise will strengthen cooperation in preparation for serious crises and emergency conditions, so that society can remain functional in all circumstances,” says Heli Tammivuori, director of the NESA’s Network Cooperation Unit.

In a deteriorating security environment, companies and public authorities must also prepare for crisis situations that, while unlikely, would have serious and far-reaching consequences were they to occur.

Focus on strengthening preparedness in the food supply sector

The food supply sector ensures that the population has access to food in all circumstances. It encompasses the entire food supply chain, from farms to the food industry, distribution, shops and food services.

“The continuity of Finland’s food supply depends largely on the operational capacity of companies. After all, companies are largely responsible for the operation of critical services and infrastructure, such as the supply of food, water and energy. As such, it is great that we have managed to bring together such a large number of companies, public authorities and organisations to train together. This joint exercise will provide insights that will enable us to further strengthen society’s crisis resilience,” says Tammivuori.

According to the Cyber Survey of Finnish Sectors 2025 published by the NESA early this year, companies are being challenged e.g. by new cyber threats arising from the technological transformation and changes in the security landscape that are evolving more rapidly than organisations’ ability to adapt. The cyber maturity of critical food supply companies was rated as below average in the comparison of sectors, and several areas for improvement were identified.

Joint exercises strengthen security of supply

The exercise participants include food supply companies specialising in primary production, food manufacturing, retail and distribution, as well as companies from other sectors critical to security of supply, such as telecommunications, information technology, energy, water supply and logistics. The food supply sector is heavily dependent on other sectors.

In addition to companies, the exercise participants include public authorities responsible for the aforementioned sectors, the Finnish Food Authority, National Cyber Security Centre Finland, the police and the Finnish Defence Forces.

Through its extensive exercises, the NESA develops the capacity of society to handle disruptions and emergency situations, and to recover from them.

TIETO26 exercise in brief

• The TIETO26 preparedness exercise develops participants’ preparedness and fosters cooperation between companies and public authorities in the event of cyber, information and hybrid incidents.
• More than 750 people from over 180 organisations will take part in the exercise.
• The exercise programme began in March with a series of training sessions. The actual joint exercise will take place from 29 September to 1 October 2026.
• The exercise is organised by the National Emergency Supply Agency (NESA). Responsibility for the practical implementation lies with the Digital Infrastructure Pool coordinated by the NESA, which is a cooperation network for companies, public authorities and the third sector.
• The history of TIETO exercises stretches back to the 1970s, and they were originally organised by the Finnish Defence Forces. In their current form, the exercises are organised every two years.

Further information

Chief preparedness specialist Juha Ilkka, National Emergency Supply Agency

Interview requests

Communications specialist Johanna Kippo, National Emergency Supply Agency

E-mail: johanna.kippo@nesa.fi, tel. + 358 29 505 1043